15 Products Makeup Artists Use To Look Younger

For Bobbi Brown Cosmetics artist-in-residence Carola Gonzalez, exfoliating the skin regularly (about three times a week) is very important.

“When it comes to makeup application, mature skin needs to be polished to remove dead skin, dry patches, and increase skin cell turnover,” she said, adding that exfoliated skin will also make foundation look smoother and more even.

She uses this active exfoliator which uses potent fruit enzymes to gently slough off dead skin cells along with nutrient-dense plant oils and honey to help restore moisture and clear congestion.

Los Angeles-based makeup artist Susan Zeytuntsyan said that setting powder has a tendency to settle into and accentuate fine lines, so it’s important to only spot powder using a small brush, and only in areas you really need it, such as the T-zone.

“Use a very finely milled loose powder,” Zeytuntsyan said. “I love the Hourglass one because it has reflective particles that help maintain that glow while still setting your makeup.”

According to Zeytuntsyan, hydrating the skin is one of the most important steps in the makeup prep process. This is because makeup applied on top of dry skin can make products look patchy or settle into fine lines.

“For mature skin, use a really rich and emollient moisturizer as a base for your foundation,” she said. “I love Embryolisse Lait Crème Concentre.”

This iconic French face cream actually functions as both a moisturizer and a makeup primer and contains a blend of calming aloe, soy proteins, skin-softening shea and beeswax.

Garrison’s absolute favorite product for achieving that “lit from within glow” is Charlotte Tilbury’s cult-favorite Hollywood Flawless Filter, a unique product that hydrates, illuminates and blurs imperfections.

“You can mix it in with your foundation for an all over dewy finish or just apply it to the high points of your face, like the tops of your cheekbones, for added radiance,” Garrison said.

“One tip I always give women who want to freshen their makeup as they get older is to switch from black eyeliner to brown. Let the black from the mascara be the deepest shade,” Freedman said.

He loves Mac Cosmetics’ Eye Kohl eyeliner pencil in the shade Teddy, because it’s the perfect deep brown with the right amount of shimmer to catch light and add depth.

For even more definition that won’t drag eyes down, Freedman also suggested using a slightly lighter brown, like Mac Cosmetics’ Powersurge, on the bottom lash line.

Another one of Garrison’s favorite foundations is the Chantecaille Future Skin oil-free foundation, a unique water-based gel foundation that promises a like-skin natural finish, combined with the benefits of anti-aging skin care. Available in 21 shades, this foundation contains hydrating spirodela polyrhiza extract and soothing chaga mushroom extract, as well as a plant-based retinol alternative that can promote collagen production.

Setareh said the melanin in our lips can fade with age, making them look smaller than they really are, or smaller than they once were. Using a lip liner to slightly over-line the top lip and just the center of the bottom lip can help create a more full look and draw attention to the center of the face.

She also said she avoids drying lipsticks or matte lip paints, and that lip liners by NYX are what she typically grabs. Available in a large variety of shades, these lip pencils are creamy and long-wearing.

Gonzales recommends incorporating a skin corrector into your makeup routine, like this one from Bobbi Brown, because they cancel out imperfections on the skin like dark spots and under eye circles. This convenient glide-on stick promises to be comfortable and not cakey, and is infused with ingredients to provide a dose of moisture.

Brett Freedman, a Los Angeles-based celebrity makeup artist, said that as we age, we lose the color in our skin. Adding a lift of tawny or bronze to your usual routine makes skin look warmer, more glowy and all-around healthier.

He suggested using Charlotte Tilbury’s Airbrush Flawless bronzer. Its pressed powder formula is made using micro-fine perfecting powders for a silky feeling on the skin as well as hyaluronic acid to hydrate.

According to Freedman, nothing opens eyes up more than curling the lashes.

“Once lashes are in the curler, squeeze and hold for a quick count of 10,” he said, cautioning against “pumping” lashes with the curler, which he said “won’t really ‘set’ a curl.”

This highly rated stainless steel lash curler promises to never pinch the delicate skin around the eye and uses elongated silicone pads that won’t break lashes.

Garrison said that it’s important to prep your under-eye area with moisture. One of her favorite eye creams is the iS Clinical Youth Eye Complex, which is packed with peptides and potent antioxidants to help support collagen production, protect the skin and reduce the appearance of fine lines.

When it comes to addressing under-eye puffiness and eye bags prior to makeup application, Garrison also likes to use these cooling eye gel patches that claim to deliver potent actives to help de-puff, brighten and smooth the under-eye.

Garrison and Setareh both shared love for Nars’ Radiant creamy concealer, an industry favorite formula that contains light-diffusing mineral powder to blur the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and brighten the under-eye. It’s available in 28 shades.

Both Zeytuntsyan and Garrison said to opt for a cream blush rather than a powder formula because it gives you a natural flush with a more radiant finish. Garrison said that placing your blush a bit higher on your cheekbones can give you an “instant facelift.”

“Applying blush on the apples of the cheeks gives the illusion of a rounder face and can make you look more youthful,” Zeytuntsyan added. She said she’s been loving the Patrick Ta cream and powder blush duo available in 16 shades and meant to be used together or alone.

“The formula is super creamy and easy to blend and the powder blush doesn’t feel too drying on the skin. I love using the powder first and then applying the cream on top to add more luminosity to the cheeks,” she said.

“Another trick to make your eyes look brighter is to take [the] highlighter and apply it using your finger on your brow bone, center of your eyelid and the inner corner of your eyes,” Zeytuntsyan said. “This is a quick and easy way to brighten and add a pop to your eyes without the need for a ton of eye makeup.”